It's really cool when a game takes you by surprise. I don't tend to play action platformers, but because of Blasphemous, I'm playing far more. I was pulled in by the gorgeous pixel art (including cutscenes!) and soundtrack, and stuck with it for the challenging gameplay and the hauntingly beautiful world, lore, and themes presented throughout. It's got some flaws (instant-death traps, somewhat lackluster platforming), but I really enjoyed the pace and feel of this first game. There's weight to this world and your decisions, and its brutal brushstrokes paint a vivid picture by the end. A must-play game.

I'm primarily an RPG player, yet I've never played FF7. I haven't played many Final Fantasy's, either. Though fascinated with the series' history, with its characters and its worlds, I missed playing the beloved classics as a child and then never had the gusto to start or complete the later 3d titles. I know so much about Final Fantasy, but only truly have one fully completed game under my belt.

I jumped into Remake knowing it diverts quite drastically from the original. I even parallel-played Remake a couple years ago, so my experience isn't exactly fresh or new. Regardless, I couldn't put the game down.

Remake was very fun for me. Midgar is beautiful. The characters are beautiful. The sectors are dark and grimy but all things are rendered so nicely. I never could get the hang of combat but found easy mode to be too easy so I struggled through. While the game felt a bit imbalanced and the last chapters too long compared to a well-paced whole, the characters and story of resistance and fate kept me fascinated.

I can see why people love the original. The mysteries of this world and the characters who act in it had me invested way more than I expected. I think the changes incorporated in Remake present a chance for returning fans to relive that wonder, and for new fans like myself to fall in love with Midgar and these iconic characters for the first time.

All to say, I'm very excited for Rebirth and the unnamed part 3.